Students from Universitas Indonesia (UI), representing the Faculty of Engineering (FT), achieved outstanding success at the Integrated Petroleum Festival (IPFEST) 2025. The three UI teams—Team Sederhana, Team Wompey, and Team Partyan Regen—are members of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Universitas Indonesia Student Chapter (SPE UI SC). They emerged victorious among 73 competing teams during the event held from November 2024 to February 2025.
In this competition, the UI teams presented research-based solutions offering new energy resource utilization and waste management approaches. Each team proposed concepts aligned with current industry developments and demonstrated strong potential for further implementation.
Team Sederhana secured First Place in the Paper and Poster Competition with their project titled “Methanotroph-Based Bioconversion Technology.” The concept focuses on utilizing flare gas rich in methane using methanotroph-based technology (specifically, Methylocystis bryophila). Compared to energy-intensive gas-to-liquid (GTL) conversion methods, this bioconversion technique presents a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative.
Muhammad Faerel R.A.—a Chemical Engineering student and member of Team Sederhana alongside Yusuf Yudhoyuno and Imelda Melati Putri—explained that the methanotroph bacteria in their innovation can convert methane into methanol with up to 72% efficiency via the methane monooxygenase (MMO) enzyme, offering the potential to produce over 4,300 tons of methanol annually.
Meanwhile, Team Wompey—comprising Febrian Hadinata Bunanto, Edward Egbert, and Thia Pasi—presented their innovation “Energy from Waste (EFW): Harnessing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) via Plasma Gasification for Electrical Generation Distributed by Smart Grid System.” The solution explores waste-to-energy technology, converting municipal solid waste (MSW) into electricity through plasma gasification. The process generates high-quality syngas for an Integrated Plasma Gasification Combined Cycle (IPGCC) system. This innovation earned Team Wompey Second Place in the same category.
In addition, Team Partyan Regen won Third Place in the Smart Competition category. This team—consisting of Ratu Khalisa Nabila, Muhammad Dzaki, and Vidya Alyssa Chandra—was challenged to analyze and develop data-driven strategies to address future energy industry challenges. Ratu remarked, “This competition pushed us to think critically in developing solutions that are not only innovative but also realistic for application in the energy sector.”
The success of these three teams highlights the ability of UI students to develop research-based, solution-oriented innovations. This achievement underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing challenges in the energy field—from resource optimization and waste utilization to the application of smart technologies in energy distribution systems.
Dean of FTUI, Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for the students’ achievements. “The participation of FTUI students in IPFEST 2025 shows that they not only possess strong academic competencies, but are also capable of delivering real solutions in sustainable energy development. We hope this accomplishment will inspire other students to continue creating, researching, and innovating with wide-reaching impact on both industry and society,” said Prof. Kemas.
Solution-driven research and innovation have become increasingly important in the rapidly evolving energy industry. Through these accomplishments, FTUI students are sharpening their academic skills and contributing meaningfully to the advancement of sustainable energy transitions. IPFEST 2025, organized by Institut Teknologi Bandung, is a testament to how the fusion of science, technology, and creativity can generate new approaches to meeting future energy needs.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
